Tournament Rules & Regulations

Deadline for Entries

Deadline for Entries: Friday, November 18, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.

Entry Fees

• $75.00 per person
• $15.00 per youth, under the age of 16

Allowed Fishing

Fishing is allowed from boat, shore, pier, or bridge within the boundaries set forth by these rules.

Boundaries

Fishing is allowed only within the area designated by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF) as the Albemarle Sound Striped Bass Management Area (ASBMA). In the Croatan and Roanoke sounds fishing is allowed only in those portions north of a line drawn from Red Buoy #2 in the Roanoke Sound near Duck Island and extending to the west side of the Croatan Sound passing 500 yards south of Roanoke Marshes Light buoy. No fishing is allowed (i) in Wanchese Harbor, (ii) in Pirates Cove, (iii) north of the NC/VA border, or in any area outside of the ASBMA as defined by the NCDMF.

Days of Fishing

There will be one day of fishing. All fish must be caught and weighed on the date of the tournament within the timeframes and in the manner described by these Rules.

Weather

Each entrant is responsible for determining if he or she will fish in view of the current weather conditions. The tournament will not be cancelled except for extreme weather conditions. Cancellation in the event of extreme weather is at the sole discretion of the Tournament Committee. Ten percent (10%) of registered entrants must actually fish before any entrant will be eligible for any prizes. In the event no fishing can take place on tournament day, due to the weather, the following day shall be the alternate fishing day.

Anglers Meeting

An anglers meeting will be held at the Official Weigh Station on the night before the tournament day following the expiration of the deadline for entries. Modifications to these rules may be announced by the Tournament Committee at the anglers meeting and entrants are responsible for complying with any such rules changes. A phone number and VHF channel for use in contacting the Tournament Headquarters will be provided at the anglers meeting. Each entrant should attend or be represented at the anglers meeting. Each entrant is bound by all information distributed at the anglers meeting whether published in tournament literature or not.

In the unlikely event the tournament gets canceled, no tournament entry fee will be refunded. Entry fees will be donated to Manteo Rotary for use as scholarship money for Dare County youth. All fees entered into the Tournament within a Tournament will be refunded within (60) days of the cancellation date in the event of cancellation due to weather.

Fishing Hours

6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Official Weigh Station

• Roanoke Island Festival Park will be the Official Weigh Station. Fish must be properly tagged with the tag supplied to each entrant and must be checked in at the Official Weigh Station by 4:00 p.m. on the day of fishing. The Official Weigh Station will open at 1:00 p.m. Any fish not checked in by 4:00 p.m. will not be weighed. The Official Weigh Master’s watch controls as to all times herein.
• All entrants will receive a fish tag at registration. This tag must be securely attached to the fish when checked in at the Official Weigh Station. Neither the Tournament Committee nor the Manteo Rotary club is responsible for any fish which becomes unattached from its tag. No fish will be weighed which is not properly tagged.
• Each entrant may weigh one (1) fish. Fish must be weighed by the Official Weigh Station Scales at the Roanoke Island Festival Park.
• Any entrant delivering a fish to the Official Weigh Station in a boat must proceed in a safe common sense fashion toward the designated off-loading area and must vacate that area immediately after off-loading fish.
• Overland transportation of fish will be permitted.
• Fish must not be mutilated in any way except for gaff punctures.
• To be eligible for prizes, fish must be hooked and caught by the entrant. No other person may touch the rod, reel or line. Another person may touch the leader or may assist in landing a fish via net, gaff or other similar means.
• On registration day, the size and number of fish permitted by law to be caught will be announced, however entrants are responsible for being familiar with all applicable fisheries laws and neither Manteo Rotary Club nor any member thereof is responsible for inaccurate information given. All registrants are responsible for obtaining fishing licenses and for complying with all State and Federal Laws and Fishing Regulations.
• Any protest must be in writing and accompanied by $100 non-refundable cash deposit delivered to the Chairman of the Tournament Committee before 5:00 p.m. on the day of the tournament.
• All entrants, by submitting registration forms and entry fees, consent to the administration of a polygraph examination prior to and as a condition to receiving any prize, if so requested by the Tournament Committee.
• All weighed fish are subject to the scrutiny and inspection by the Tournament Committee, the Official Weighmaster and North Carolina Marine Fisheries Officials. All fish weighed become the property of the Rockfish Tournament. Attempts to alter the weight of a fish disqualifies the entrant from being eligible for any prizes including the Tournament within a Tournament.
• All fish must be caught by use of rod and reel. Down riggers and planers are permissible for the purpose of positioning baits and lures.
• In the event two or more fish are of the exact weight, the fish checked in first at the Official Weigh Station shall be declared the winner for any applicable prize.
• For safety purposes, all boats used in fishing this tournament must adhere to USCG regulations for their size and category.
• Any violation of tournament rules constitutes grounds for disqualification from the tournament.
• Any tournament official or tournament sponsor entering the tournament in compliance with tournament rules is eligible for any and all prizes.
• The Tournament Rules Committee shall resolve all issues, questions, protests or disputes and said decision SHALL BE FINAL.
• All tournament entrants consent and authorize the Tournament Committee and their advertising/public relations agencies to use and reproduce names, voices and/or photographs, whether taken or recorded and circulate the same for any and all purposes of publicity and advertising of all kinds and descriptions in any and all media formats.
• The Tournament Rules Committee reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone for any reason.

Cash Prizes

Cash prizes will be calculated based on the number of adult entrants. If there are 100 or less adult entrants, the cash prizes will be set at the amounts listed below. If there are more than 100 adult entrants the cash prizes will be increased proportionately in a manner consistent with the examples below. Proportionally calculated cash prizes will be rounded up to nearest whole dollar. No cash prizes will be awarded to youth anglers.

Trophies

Trophies will be awarded for the top four (4) places. A separate trophy will be awarded to the top lady adult angler. Trophies will be awarded to the top four (4) youth anglers. Further trophies, and/or case prizes maybe awarded in the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

Tournament within a Tournament

Based on 100 entries in each level. Level 1 $50 to enter, heaviest fish takes all ($4,000). Level 2 $100 to enter, heaviest fish takes all ($8,000).

Release

It is expressly understood that all those participating in the Tournament do so at their own risk. By registering as an Angler in the Tournament, the entrant holds harmless the Tournament committee, its sponsors and donors and all persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of the Tournament from any liability of any kind or nature, including but not limited to libel, slander, loss, damage, negligence, harm, injury, or death suffered by a participant, entrant, sportsfisherman, their companions, boat captains, crew members, family vessels, and equipment which may occur during the Tournament.